Mansour bin Zayed issues resolution forming ‘National Committee for Union Narrative’

According to the resolution, the committee will be chaired by Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Advisor to the UAE President. Its membership includes representatives from the Presidential Protocol and Strategic Narrative Authority, the National Media Office, the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, the Founder’s Office, the National Library and Archives, the Executive Office of … Read more

Confident UAE face off mighty India in U19 Asia Cup today

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, … Read more

Record-Breaking New Year 2026 Celebration

Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Eve Festival Taking place at Al Hamra, the free-entry Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s Eve Festival will welcome residents and visitors to witness the midnight spectacle with a line-up of live entertainment, food trucks and carnival-style activities for the whole family running from 2pm. This year’s festival stage features an … Read more

Why is Rishab Shetty of Kantara fame facing backlash over Darshan’s new film ‘The Devil’ amid murder case

Dubai: A day after arguments over Ranveer Singh’s Kantara spoof began to die down, a new controversy has surfaced in Karnataka’s film industry — this time centred on Kantara creator and actor Rishab Shetty. His decision to publicly wish success to Darshan Thoogudeepa’s new release The Devil has sparked a wave of criticism online, with … Read more

UAE celebrates sustainability leaders at inaugural Excellence Awards

The inaugural Sustainability Excellence Awards 2025, hosted by Gulf News and BeingShe, took place last night at the SEE Institute, The Sustainable City in Dubai, setting a new benchmark for the UAE’s growing sustainability movement. The event brought together leaders from across industries to recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions of 20 organisations and individuals … Read more

Spoilers, cast exits and what we know

What Season 5 is actually about Emily is now the HBIC of Grateau’s Rome branch. A work proposal collapses (classic), her love life gets messy (shocking), and a secret detonates one of her closest relationships. Darren Star told Tudum he sent Emily to Italy to “stay ahead of the audience” and prove the show can … Read more

7 UAE visa violations that could lead to jail and deportation

1. Harbouring or employing infiltrators Sheltering or employing infiltrators is considered a serious offence due to potential threats to public security. Penalties include: Imprisonment: Minimum of two months. Fines: From Dh100,000 up to Dh5 million, depending on the number of offenders or if organised networks are involved. Deportation: Mandatory for the foreigner in all cases, … Read more

IndiGo to compensate ‘severely impacted’ passengers up to ₹10,000 after crisis

The airline confirmed that the vouchers can be used for any IndiGo journey over the next 12 months and are being issued in addition to government-mandated refunds and compensation guidelines. Moreover, under the Indian government guidelines, IndiGo is also required to pay affected passengers between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 depending on the block time of their … Read more

Where to find Dubai’s dreamiest Christmas teas this year: 5 festive spots

1. Scarlet Afternoon Tea – The Tea Room, Al Jaddaf Rotana A high-tea experience with a glamorous twist, Scarlet Afternoon Tea is all about rich reds, berries, spices, and show-stopping aesthetics. Created in collaboration with fashion brand Nicoli, this spread blends culinary artistry with high-fashion flair. You can enjoy seasonal treats, aromatic teas, and a … Read more

6 Sophie Kinsella books for your feel-good shelf

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (2000) Wickham became “Sophie Kinsella,” and the world gained Becky Bloomwood — the woman who put the “iconic” in “economically questionable decisions.” Becky is a financial journalist who spends like she’s personally responsible for stimulating the global economy. Her fantasies are legendary — like a kindly stranger magically paying … Read more

Parvathy Thiruvothu Gulf News interview revisited after Dileep’s acquittal in Kerala assault case sends shockwaves across Malayalam cinema

The survivor had alleged that she was targeted for professional rivalry and intimidation — a claim that led to the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) and forced Malayalam cinema to confront its own entrenched misogyny. The Hema Committee Report, commissioned soon after by the Kerala state government, later confirmed widespread harassment, power … Read more

Marvel fans are basically living in the multiverse of maybe

The great trailer whiplash of December 2025 Fans were convinced Thursday, December 11 was the day. Why? The trailer was rated in Korea. Marvel Studios quietly uploaded a mysterious private video on YouTube. And the fandom collectively decided, “Yup, this is it.” Then entertainment insider Grace Randolph had the insider input. “I just heard that … Read more

Middle East gas sector eyes $200 billion investment to meet surging power demand

Jassim Alshirawi, Secretary General, International Energy Forum (IEF) said:”As the global energy landscape rapidly evolves, one fact is clear across all scenarios: the world will need sianificantlv more energy that is reliable, affordable, and lower-carbon. This places natural gas at the center of the global energy strategy. At Aramco, we are advancing one of the … Read more

Sharjah Mobilizes 1,900 for Major Eco Effort

Community spirit on display Across multiple sites in Sharjah, around 1,900 volunteers came together for the clean-up. Participants — ranging from families to students and staff from various institutions — wore cotton T-shirts and caps, and worked with biodegradable bags and cotton gloves provided by the organisers. Teams covered a vast 10km stretch of open … Read more

Heavy morning gridlock hits Sharjah–Dubai corridor

Dubai: Heavy traffic brought several key routes between Sharjah and Dubai to a crawl on Thursday morning, with long delays reported during rush hour, according to real-time Google Maps data. Dubai-bound delays Major Dubai-bound roads saw the worst congestion, especially on Al Taawun Street, Al Ittihad Road (E11), Al Hamriya Port Road (D92) and parts … Read more

Book now or wait? 10-day countdown to peak day

For UAE residents still finalising winter break plans, timing decisions over bookings in the next few days will directly affect how much they pay. Here is a 10-day countdown guide: Flights: What to keep in mind when booking On many high-demand routes, Economy-class fares have already risen above off-peak levels. They are likely to continue … Read more

Father of 8 in Sharjah to clear Dh1 million loan after $1million Dubai Duty Free raffle win

Dubai: A Sharjah-based father of eight, who has been shouldering a Dh1 million home loan, will finally breathe easy after winning $1 million in the Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Millennium Millionaire draw on Wednesday. Ahmed Al Junaibi, 43, won the life-changing amount in Series 526 with ticket number 0193, which he purchased online on November … Read more

What changes, who benefits, why it’s big

Dubai’s rollout stands out Dubai is closing the gap between global ambition and practical execution. Instead of scattered hotel-by-hotel upgrades, the city has introduced one standardised system that every licensed hotel can use. That brings benefits few markets can match: Consistency — every traveller gets the same contactless experience, no matter the hotel brand or … Read more

The win-win Waiheke gift guide 2025

It was the 23rd of December 1995; a Saturday. I expected to get away from work by lunchtime. But it was not to be. By the time I finally slunk out of the office, it was four o’clock. To my horror, the shops were beginning to close.   Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday that … Read more

Six hours in a leaky boat

A 52-year-old Auckland woman found herself getting blown out to sea last Thursday, 4 December, after attempting to take a dinghy to shore from the yacht she’d been staying on without any boating experience.  Waiheke Police Sergeant Raymond Matthews says the yacht was anchored in Oneroa Bay, and the woman apparently had a disagreement with … Read more

Jono Ridler to swim 1000 miles for ocean health

Jono Ridler, pictured with co-founder of Live Ocean, Blair Tuke, will be swimming from North Cape to Wellington in order to raise awareness of ocean health. Photo Gareth Cooke / Live Ocean Swimming legend Jono Ridler will begin an unprecedented 1,000-mile (1609km) swim from North Cape to Wellington in January – a world-record breaking endurance … Read more